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Bible Study- Lutz, Florida
Established
November 2008
Rightly
Dividing the Word of Truth
(2
Timothy 2:15)
This is
good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who
desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 1Timothy 2:3-4
Romans
by the Book
Lesson
37
I
offer greetings to each and everyone and I appreciate that you dropped by.
Thank
you for taking the time to study God’s Word with us.
I’ve
said this many times but it bears repeating, “This book is meant to be studied.”
This
isn’t my opinion. I’ll show you a verse
in Scripture that supports this statement.
This
is the beginning of a new year, and there are some routine announcements that
need to go out to the group and to the new visitors. I’ve been inserting a few
of these here and there as we go along in the month of January. There are only a few left, so if you’ll
please bear with me.
If
you’ve been with us for awhile then you’re already aware of this but for those
who are new or just visiting I want to remind the group that HBS exists to present
and to promote the Word of God.
Since Scripture interprets itself, my role is to enlighten you as to “What do the Scriptures say” - and in
some cases what it does not say?
There’s
one more important item to cover before we begin this Bible lesson.
The
Apostle Paul wrote, "…Study (Scripture) to show thyself approved unto
God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing
the Word of Truth." (2 Timothy 2:15). (KJV)
We
are to study
Scripture - “to show ourselves approved
unto God, so that we need not be
ashamed.
Study = to learn about a
subject by reading and researching
Studying
involves reading, but reading does not necessarily involve studying!
Read = to identify and
understand the meaning of the characters and words in written or printed
material
I
read my newspaper I don’t study it.
I
didn’t study the last novel I read.
However,
I did study the last textbook I was assigned in college.
I
urge you to see the difference.
A
Believer is “commanded” to study Scripture and there are many reasons for this.
Yes,
this is a command and not a suggestion… I
don’t want to take the time to travel all the way down this road, but suffice
to say with false teaching on the increase how will you recognize it unless you
are aware of the truth?
You
know when they train new treasury agents they don’t teach them to spot a counterfeit
bill by using fake money. No sir, they use
real money. The new agents spend so much
time going over our paper money; looking at every item and detail on it, until
they know it so well that a fake one stands out amongst a group of real bills.
Now apply this illustration to the study of God's Word. Every Believer is commanded to reach the point where he or she can show themselves approved to God, a workman who need not be ashamed… rightly dividing the word of truth.
Now apply this illustration to the study of God's Word. Every Believer is commanded to reach the point where he or she can show themselves approved to God, a workman who need not be ashamed… rightly dividing the word of truth.
What
does it mean to Rightly Divide the Word
of Truth?
The
Greek word translated “rightly divide”
is Orthotomeo.
It
is used only once in the Bible - here. This Greek word means “to cut straight.”
It
was a word used by carpenters who measured twice before they cut wood.
Surgeons
practice this same principle today in the O.R., and that’s a good thing.
First,
The Bible is a progressive revelation, meaning God revealed various aspects of
His will and plan to mankind over the ages (periods of time).
Second,
rightly dividing the word of truth
means more than correctly interpreting it.
By this I mean to say, the manner
by which we apply Scripture’s wisdom to our lives (i.e. application), although
that’s certainly a part of it.
But
this Scripture verse is telling us that God’s Word has divisions that
must be made in Scripture and these must
be rightly divided. This is the
essence of dispensation (= the system by which anything is administered).
Dispensations
are not ages but stewardships or administrations. Here are two examples.
Colossians 1
25: Whereof I (the Apostle Paul) am made a minister, according to the
dispensation of God which is given to me for you (Gentiles), to fulfill the word of God;
And:
Ephesians 3
1: For this reason,
I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles –
2: if indeed you
have heard of the (what)
stewardship (or dispensation)
of God’s grace which was given
to me for you;
From
these two examples above it’s clear that the Apostle Paul was chosen by the
Creator God to be the administrator (or
steward) of the Gospel of Grace for us
Gentiles, which is a new dispensation in
Scripture, to fulfill the word of God.
As
this relates to the Bible and recorded history, this means that different
responsibilities were given to men and women at different divisions (administrations) by God.
For example the responsibilities for the nation of Israel under the Law were
much different than they were for Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.
*Please
note that during every division in
Scripture or dispensation the method
of salvation does not change. Justification by faith, alone, never changes through the dispensations (see Hebrews 11:6).
"…Study to show thyself approved unto God, a
workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of
Truth." (2
Timothy 2:15). (KJV)
Dispensationalism is a system of theology
that sees God working with humanity in different ways during different dispensations.
The
Bible and Dispensationalism both teach us that God gives different demands and
responsibilities to the people living in different divisions (administrations).
Some
people struggle with this concept, but for the most part anyone who believes
anything about the Bible agrees with it to some degree. For example, how many people are still trying
to offer animal sacrifices to God as they did in the Old Testament?
While
the Bible was written for all people and for our learning, it is not addressed
to all people in general. Part of it is
addressed to the Jews, part of it to the Gentiles, and part of the Bible is
addressed to the Body of Christ (the Church) - 1 Corinthians 10:32.
I
recently wrote a very personal letter to my sister over the holidays. I addressed the letter and its contents to
her, which means it was meant for her eyes only.
Now
if another person picked up that letter and began reading it, as though it were
intended for them, would that work? I
don’t think so. But you see so many
people pick up their Bible and begin reading it as if the entire book was
written to them and for them and that’s incorrect.
All Scripture is inspired
by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for
instruction, for training in righteousness; (2 Timothy 3:16) and what happened
to the nation of Israel was written for our instruction and our learning. But we must not apply to the Church what does
not belong to it. To do so is to misapply Scripture and this leads to
confusion; some people use the word contradiction(s).
There
are 7 Dispensations in Scripture:
Innocence (Genesis 1:1-;
3-7)
Conscience (Genesis 3:8-8:22)
Human Government (Genesis 9:1-11;
32)
Promise (Genesis
12:1-Exodus 19:25)
Law (Exodus 20:1 –
Acts 2:4)
Grace (Acts 2:4-
Revelation 20:3)
And
the millennial kingdom (Revelation
20:4-6)
This
intro ran longer than I originally intended, but it’s important to understand
some of the basics of Bible study and what we’re about here at HBS.
Please
open your Bible to the book of Romans at chapter 5.
Romans 5
14: Nevertheless,
death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over those who had not sinned in the
likeness of the offense of Adam, who is a type of Him (note the
capitalization) who was to come.
The
last Bible lesson ended reflecting on the dire results of Adam’s transgression.
I
didn’t enjoy ending the Bible lesson on that note, so I closed it with this
thought,
“But there’s good news” and the closing
phrase in verse 14 alludes to this promise.
Let’s
examine this comment from the Apostle Paul.
…Adam who is a type of Him (note the capitalization) who was to come.
As
we learned earlier, Adam is the Federal
Head of the human race.
Everyone
without exception comes from the line of Adam.
This
includes Eve (Genesis 2:21-22) and Jesus Christ (see Luke 3:23-38).
Jesus
had a human mother, but Jesus’ Father was God (see Luke 1:26-38).
In
verse 14, Adam is declared a type of the One who was to come.
Put
another way – Jesus Christ is the last Adam and here Paul compares the two.
The
first Adam was “created” from the
dust of the ground, and the LORD God breathed the breath of life into him. The man became a “living soul.” He was perfect;
without sin. The last Adam (Jesus) was
“born” without a sin nature.
Adam
(the Federal Head) of the human race was to, “be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth” with his
offspring. Because he willfully chose to
disobey the LORD God’s command in the garden he brought his entire race down
into death instead.
Jesus,
despite being a descendant of Adam, did not inherit his sin nature.
Even
though Jesus was born of a woman, Jesus’ father was God.
Therefore,
we have the 2nd Man (the Son of Man).
Jesus
lived a sinless life. He succeeded where
Adam failed.
Jesus
Christ was sent to fulfill the purpose of God for that original human
race.
He’s
truly the Last Adam and there’s no improving on Jesus Christ.
So,
Adam who (willfully chose to disobey
the LORD’s command and brought death into God’s perfect world) is a type (where Adam failed –
Christ succeeded) of Him who was to come…
I
think it’s time to review Scripture.
Please go to 1 Corinthians, chapter 15.
1 Corinthians 15
45: So also it is
written, “The first MAN, Adam BECAME A LIVING SOUL.”
The last Adam (Jesus Christ) became
a life-giving spirit.
46: However, the spiritual
is not first, but the natural; then the spiritual.
47: The first man
is from the earth, earthy; the second man is from heaven.
Throughout
Scripture there is a repeating cycle.
First
there is the “natural” and then the “Spiritual.”
Let’s
define these two terms using the book.
1 Corinthians 3
14: But a natural
man does not accept the things of Spirit of God, for they are
foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually
appraised.
Natural
means: pertaining to the fallen state,
earthly, fleshly, or corrupt.
1 Corinthians 3
15: But he who is spiritual
appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one.
16: For WHO HAS
KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, THAT HE WILL INSTRUCT HIM? But we have the mind of Christ.
Spiritual
means the opposite of natural:
pertaining to the restored state; these folks are Believers Old
Testament or New; sinners still, but saved.
Here’s
an example: Cain (the natural) and Abel
(the Spiritual).
Cain
was a natural man. He had no faith in God. Why do I say this? Look at the Biblical evidence and ask
yourself what is faith because there’s a connection.
The
best definition of faith I know is this – faith is taking God at His Word.
God
said it; I believe it. Over and out!
Cain
was a farmer. He was a man of the
earth. When the appointed time came to
bring his offerings to the LORD what did he bring – fruit of the ground – (Genesis 4:3)?
In
contrast, what did Abel offer as a sacrifice to the LORD?
Abel
brought firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions.
Abel
obeyed the LORD’s command, demonstrating his faith.
What was God’s response?
This
book says, “…the LORD had regard for
Abel and for his offering…but for Cain and for his offering He
had no regard.”
Why
did the LORD reject Cain’s offering? It
wasn’t a “blood” sacrifice.
We
know from Genesis chapter 3, Adam and the woman believed the LORD in the
garden, and then animals were sacrificed, blood was shed, so that they could
go on living. How do we know this? Adam named his wife “Eve.”
Eve
means, the mother of all the living.
In
this manner, the LORD showed the man and the woman that the shed blood of
animals was required to appease Him. But
the blood only “covered” their sins (their sins weren’t removed – the blood of
animals cannot remove sin - Hebrews 10:4)
and from this time onward this is what needed to be done and at the appointed
time (see Hebrews 9:22).
Cain
disobeyed God’s command. He brought fruit instead of an animal sacrifice.
From
this act we learn that Cain was prideful and destitute of faith.
There
are many examples in Scripture of this truth.
Two others that come to mind are:
Esau (the natural)/ Jacob (the Spiritual) and King Saul (the natural)/King David (the Spiritual).
Natural
men and women are concerned and occupied with the material things of this world. They are not concerned with the things of
God. The supernatural work of God is to
change the natural into the spiritual. We
were all “natural” before we were saved.
When
a natural man or woman trusts Jesus Christ as their Savior, God exchanges what
is natural (that received from Adam) with the spiritual (that received from
Jesus Christ -through faith).
So,
in Adam, all men and women experience the second death.
But in Jesus Christ
all will be made alive (see 1 Corinthians 15:22).
(To
be continued)
©
Copyright 2011
GJ
Heitzman’s Ministry
All
Rights Reserved
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